Instructions

ZOOM IN by clicking on the page. A slider will appear, allowing you to adjust your zoom level. Return to the original size by clicking on the page again.

MOVE the page around when zoomed in by dragging it.

ADJUST the zoom using the slider on the top right.

ZOOM OUT by clicking on the zoomed-in page.

SEARCH by entering text in the search field and click on "In This Issue" or "All Issues" to search the current issue or the archive of back issues
respectively.
.

PRINT by clicking on thumbnails to select pages, and then press the
print button.

SHARE this publication and page.

ROTATE PAGE allows you to turn pages 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise.Click on the page to return to the original orientation. To zoom in on a rotated page, return the page to its original orientation, zoom in, and
then rotate it again.

CONTENTS displays a table of sections with thumbnails and descriptions.

ALL PAGES displays thumbnails of every page in the issue. Click on
a page to jump.

15
CENTRAL CANTERBURY NEWS, APRIL 24, 2013
ADVERTISING FEATURE
78c Riccarton Rd
CHRISTCHURCH
Phone Orders Welcome!
Ph (03) 348 - 0656
Fax (03) 348 - 0654
SHOOTER'S SUPPLIES
SALE ON NOW!
EVERYTHING REDUCED
UP TO 50% OFF ALL GUNS & UP TO 70% OFF ACCESSORIES
"DUCK SHOOTING" SPECIALS
"BUNNY BUSTER" SPECIALS
BENELLI M2 Super 90
STOEGER M2000
ATA arms Semi -- autos
RUGER 10/22
NORINCO JW 15
GAMO 'Black fusion'
$839
$489
Gun only $459
$999
$2099
$749
$449
$339
$599
Now
were
Now
were
Now
Now
Now
were
were
were
$2699
$599
Free gun
bag
with free
gun bag
with free
gun bag
with free
gun bag
with free
gun bag
$795
with free gun bag
or Doz Decoys
(your choice)
Black synthetic semi - auto
12ga, 3'' chamber, 28'' I.c barrel
5 Shot, Semi-auto I.c,
26" or 28" barrel
Black synthetic stocks
5 shot, semi -- auto, I.c
22 cal, 5 shot bolt action Incl scope & silencer
Synthetic or wood stocks 10 shot semi --
auto with 4 x 32 scope
$699 12ga or 20ga
$719 12ga soft touch
$789 12ga max 4 camo
5314095AA
IDEAL FOR LIFESTYLE BLOCKS
177 cal, 1185 fps, adj trigger With noise dampening &
recoil pad Incl: 3-9 x 42 laser integrated scope
DUCK SHOOTING SEASON
5326950AA
Taking aim: The early morning sun rises over the Port Hills as a hunter at Lake Ellesmere looks
to take his first duck of a new season.
Ready to bag paradise
By JEFF LILLY
Andrew Currie,
communications adviser
(South Island) for Fish & Game
New Zealand, has advice for
duck hunters waiting for the
season to begin on May 4.
''The long, dry summer has
had an impact on ponds and
waterways where many
people have their maimais,
and many regions have
reported numerous maimai,
hides and stands as being
high and dry.
''With the rain arriving
earlier this week and the
forecast for the next week
looking great (rain and more
rain), this situation should
be alleviated.
''Bird numbers are looking
good too and many regions
are conducting bird counts
this week, but early
indications are that there will
be plenty around come
opening weekend.
''Canterbury has had a good
number of parries (paradise
shelduck) recorded over the
summer and mallard numbers
appear consistent with
previous years.
''Our field officer, who
undertook a flight over the
region this week, reported
that north of the Waimakariri
River, it was definitely drier
than usual, but thought
the waterways and ponds
that did have birds, had
good numbers.
''Between the Rakaia and
Waimak rivers, there were a
lot of ponds with water and a
high numbers of birds. His
feeling was that the overall
number of birds was higher
than the last few years and
this mirrored the good spring
we had, which provided ideal
breeding conditions.''
If you are a hunter whose
maimai is now on a dry pond,
there are other opportunities
on public land or you may be
able to approach a
landowner, a friendly
crop farmer perhaps, and
ask permission to hunt a
stubble paddock or an
irrigation pond.
Maimai construction or the
annual clean-up should have
been completed by now and
most hunters will be keen to
leave their hide alone for the
next three weeks. And
everyone will have their
fingers crossed for an
overcast, windy day on May 4.
Hunters must check the
regulations booklet that
accompanies their licence to
see regional variations on bag
limits and season lengths.
Fish & Game appreciates
that opening weekend is a
chance for mates to have
their annual get together, but
reminds all hunters to hunt
responsibly and ethically, and
if you must have a drink on
opening day, please wait until
the guns are locked away.
Build your own maimai
Maimai on Lake Ellesmere: Approved maimai construction techniques are
available from Fish & Game New Zealand.
Lake Ellesmere (Te Waihora), a
20,000ha wetland of national and
international significance, is the
major game bird hunting area in the
region. Mallard ducks are the most
popular quarry during the traditional
hunting months of May and June.
Black swan and shoveler duck are
also present. It is important to note
that Lake Ellesmere is home to a
large grey teal population, which are
protected wildlife. It is important
that hunters take time to properly
identify their target, especially
during periods of low light.
The best time to hunt Ellesmere is
during a strong southerly wind. Birds
which usually roost in the middle of
the lake are pushed off and tend to
fly to the downwind shore. The lake
also offers good shooting during
strong northwest or northeast
winds; once again the downwind
shoreline is the best place to hunt.
Lake Ellesmere has a good
number of maimais around the
shoreline and most Ellesmere
regulars have one of their own.
However, any hunter is free to use
any maimai sited on public land that
has not been occupied by 7.45am.
This is a great option for new or
inexperienced hunters, who want a
taste of open water game bird
hunting without having to commit
to the time and expense involved in
building their own maimai.
Please note, a permit is required
to hunt on DOC-managed land on
the shores of Lake Ellesmere. Talk to
the DOC Christchurch Visitor Centre,
now located in the Christchurch
Botanic Gardens. Ph 03 341 9113.
MAIMAIS ON LAKE ELLESMERE
The construction of permanent
maimais on public land and Ngai
Tahu lakebed at Lake Ellesmere is
subject to a number of conditions.
Approved construction techniques
can be found on the North
Canterbury page of the Fish & Game
website. Hunters need to obtain
permission from Fish & Game and
DOC before starting work on a new
maimai. However, hunters are
encouraged to refurbish an unused
existing maimai in the first instance.
Hunters with existing maimais
that have yet to be registered
should contact staff at the Fish and
Game office to obtain a maimai
registration tag. There is no charge
for these services.
THE BRAIDED RIVERBEDS
The Rakaia, Waimakariri, Hurunui
and Waiau Rivers are also popular
hunting locations. Many of these
rivers have large tidal lagoons that
provide good hunting opportunities.
Further upriver, ducks can be
targeted using traditional decoy
setups in open water areas.
Good duck shooting is also
available in places by flush shooting
small springs and ponds, which are
often found on the margins of major
riverbeds. Licensed game bird
hunters are able to hunt in most of
the North Canterbury braided river
beds, except parts where they lie
close to population centres.
In some places ''No Shooting''
signs are in place, but the
Canterbury Regional Council has
assured Fish & Game staff that this
relates to the use of rifles only.
The Waimakariri River Regional
Park, administered by Environment
Canterbury, recognises game bird
hunting as a legitimate activity, with
areas designated for such use. An
access map is available. Please do
not shoot outside of these areas,
which may put the secure future of
game bird hunting at risk.
HIGH COUNTRY LAKES
Some of the region's high country
lakes offer good hunting opportun-
ities. In some cases, hunting can be
pursued without the owner's per-
mission, but it is highly recommend-
ed you talk to the farmer or man-
ager concerned in advance. Lakes
Grasmere and Pearson are wildlife
refuges and all hunting is prohibited
there.
PRIVATE LAND
Private land also offers good
game hunting opportunities, but the
owner's permission needs to be
sought in advance. Most of the
hunting opportunities on private
land focus on paradise shelduck,
particularly in the northern and
western parts of the region. Most
farmers will be happy for you to
hunt ''parries'' on their land if you
ask first.
BOGGY CREEK GAME BIRD
HUNTING AREA
The Boggy Creek Game Bird
Hunting Area at the end of Collets
Rd, on the western shore of Lake
Ellesmere, is owned and being
developed by Fish and Game North
Canterbury for huntering and
wildlife values. Annual ballots are
held for shooting stands, open to all
licensed hunters.